The Denali comes with a long list of standard equipment to please passengers: Heated leather front seats, a Bose stereo with a six-disc CD changer, XM Satellite Radio and a three-zone air-conditioning system make both short and long drives enjoyable. For the driver, the power-folding side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, a heated washing system for de-icing the windshield, a remote starter, adjustable pedals and a tire pressure monitoring system help seal the deal.

Our tester had more than $6,000 in options added on to its $47,115 price. Some, like the rear entertainment system ($1,295) and power sunroof ($995), were welcome. I would not, however, opt for the 20-inch chrome wheels ($1,995) or the navigation system ($2,145). While I would never pay for a nav system in any vehicle, this one actually got us lost on our way home from an out-of-town trip and never correctly found the street address we were headed to, despite displaying it as a known address.